Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph Groody has announced he will run for reelection. A 43-year veteran of law enforcement in the county, Groody was first elected to the county’s sheriff position in 2009, after serving two years as an appointed sheriff.

“My combined experience of more than 43 years as a municipal police officer and sheriff has helped me to manage the county’s sheriff office more efficiently and effectively. But I also am blessed to have a force of dedicated deputy sheriffs. The job they do day in and day out is remarkable.”

As county sheriff, Groody has pursued undocumented workers illegally working in the area; assisted the County District Attorney’s Office and municipal police departments track down and apprehend fugitives; and provided assistance to the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force in the war against drugs. Groody’s office also has stepped up repeatedly to help fingerprint children during safety-night-out events.

Groody graduated from North Schuylkill High School in 1976 and the North Vocational Technical School in 1976. Groody joined the Ashland Police force in 1977, and entered the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey, graduating in 1978 with his Act 120 certification.

Under Groody’s watch, he has implemented deputy-sheriff training courses in proper handling of a Narcan, Taser, Blackhawk force-on-force training, tactical breach training, as well as marksmanship training.

Groody was born and raised in Ashland. He is an active member in the Washington Fire Company; Washington Community Fire Company and Ambulance & Rescue; a member and officer of the F.O.P. Lodge #25 for the past 43 years and was selected as 2016 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and a member of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. He also is a member of Ashland Elks, where he served as district deputy grand exalted ruler of the northeast central district, and exalted ruler Ashland Lodge, as well as vice president of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs Association.

Groody attends St. Charles Borromeo Church (formerly St. Joseph Parrish) in Ashland, where he resides with his wife, Ann Marie Fertig Groody, and two children, Faith and Joey.